Tidal power



(No Model.)

I. R. BUSSARD & M. GATES.

TIDAL POWER. V N0.332,8'75. Patented Dec. 22, 1885.

ATTORNEYS.

FELIX R. BUSSARD AND MARTIN GATES, OF HAYS CITY, KANSAS.

TIDAL POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,875, dated December 22, 1885.

Application filed May 1,1885.

Serial No. 164.111. (No model.)

To aZZwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FELIX R. BUSSARD and MARTIN GATES, both of Hays City, in the county of Ellis and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Tidal Power,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rack-bar and gearing employed in our improved tidal power. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the clutch employed in retaining the weights and in propelling the gearing in one-direction. Fig. 4 is a diametrical section of the said clutch-wheel, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section.

The object of our invention is to provide efficient means for utilizing the rise and fall of the ocean tides or of waves or of the water of flowing streams as a motive power.

.Our invention consists in a float supported by the water, and carrying a rack-bar, which engages gearing for winding weights by the rise and fall of the float, thus storing power in the weights, to be given out gradually in doing work. A rack-bar, A, provided with teeth on opposite sides thereof, is attached by its lower end to a float (not shown in the drawings) supported by water, and capable of carrying with it in its upward and downward excursions the rack-bar A. Two horizontal shafts, B B, .journaled near the rackbar A, carry clutch spur-wheels C C, which are engaged by the rack-bar A in its movements up and down, and are capable of carrying with them,when revolving in one direction, the shafts B B, but which may revolve in the opposite direction without turning the said shafts. The construction of the clutch spur-wheels C C is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The toothed rim D, which meshes with the racks of the bar A, turns between two collars, a a, and is supported by series of rollers 12 b on opposite sides thereof, the said rollers bearing on shoulders on the collars a. a, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The collars a a are secured to a sleeve, 0, which is secured to the shaft B or B; and around the periphery of the sleeve 0 are seated and pivoted a number of clutch-arms, at, each of which forms a small angle with the radial line drawn from the center of the sleeve 0, and each arm d is pressed into engagement with theinner surface of the rim D by springs 6, so that when the tooth-rim D is turned in one direction it will cause the clutch-arms d to bite on its innor surface, and will carry the arms and the sleeve and its shaft with the said rim in its revolution; but when the rim D is turned in the opposite direction the clutch-arms d will not engage the inner surface of the rim, but will permit the rim to turn freely on its rollerbearings. Clutch spur-wheels C and 0 similar to that already described, are placed on the shafts E E, and they are engaged by spur-wheels F F, secured to the shafts B B, and upon the shafts E E are secured spur-wheels G G, both of which meshinto the pinion H. It will thus be seen that there are two systems of gearing, one on each side of the rack-bar A, and both communicating with the pinion H on the shaft I, the system on one side consisting of the clutch spur-wheel C. shaft B, spur-wheel F, clutch spur-wheel C shaft E, spur-wheel G, and the system on the other side consisting of the clutch spurwheel C, shaft B, spur-wheelF, clutch spurwheel 0 shaft E, and spur-wheel G. Attached to the clutch spur-wheels C and C are drums J J, adapted to receive the ropes K K, which extend over pulleys L L, and are attached to weights at their ends'. The clutch spur-wheels in the two systems of gearing are oppositely arranged with respect to each other, so that when the rack-bar A is raised by the float the clutch spur-wheel C will act so as to revolve the shaft B, and thus communicate motion to the clutch spur-wheel G which revolves freely on the shaft E without turning the said shaft, and winds'the cord K, raising the weight attached to the end thereof. lVhile the rack-bar A is thus rising and winding the cord on the drum J it is also turning the rim of the clutch spur-wheel C in a direction indicated by the arrow, and the said rim turns freely in its bearings without engaging the clutch-arms d or turning the shaft B; but the clutch spur-wheel 0 secured to the drum J, is revolved by the action of the weight and IOC cord on the drum J, and the rim of the said spur-whcel engages the clutch-arms d and revolves the shaft E, imparting motion to the pinion H through the spu r-wheel G. This operation also revolves the spur-wheel G and shaft E, but in a direction to render the clutch in the clutch spur-wheel C inoperative, when, by reason of the change in the tide or the receding of the wave, the float falls and carries with it the rack-bar A, the clutch spur-wheel O is rendered operative, and the cord K is wound upon the drum J, in the manner al- I ready described in connection with the clutch I spur-wheel O and the drum J. The falling r5 of the weight on either rope K or K results in the engagement of the clutches in the clutch spur-wheel C or G turning one of the shafts E or E, and through the wheel G or G, se-

. cured to the said shafts, revolves the shaft I, :o from which power is taken. When the drums J or J are revolved by the falling of the weight, the shaft B or B revolves the clutch in the rim D of the clutch spur-wheel C or O, and the motion of the clutch spur-wheel O or 5 O in the direction opposite to that required to wind the weights will not cause the clutch arms 61 contained thereby to be engaged, so that the said rim D is turned idly on its bearings in the flanges a a.

3 In order to control the descent of the weights carried by the ropes K K, we prefer to provide the shaft I with some form of escapement, although in some cases the character of the work performed by the machinery driven by the said shaft Iwould be such that an escapement would not be necessary.

In applying ourimproved motive power we place the float attached to the end of the rackbar A in a forebay, in which the water is allowed to rise and fall to operate the mechanism. WVe employ automatic means fol-introducing the water to the forebay and permitting it to escape therefrom.

To produce a continuous power with asmall rise of water, we may employ a series of such motors as we have described, arranging them to work in succession or alternation.

By means of our improved tidal power the force of the waves, tides, and the rising and falling streams, and of streams in which there is insufficient rise for operating a water-wheel may be utilized and converted into regular motive power.

By means of a dam and forebay with one or more apartments with floats in each, water can be taken into the first apartment until full and float at top, then the water permitted to escape to second apartment, and at the same time the water from the stream turned into the second apartment, when the float in first apartment has fallen to about a level with the risingfloat in second apartment, the opening or gate from first to second apartment to be closed, and the balance of water leftin first apartment allowed to escape and flow away, each float 6 working alternately in the same manner, and thus using a part of the same water twice.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a tidal power, the combination, with the float-supported rack-bar A, of two series of gearing clutches, winding drums, and weights, constructed to be operated in alternation, as herein described.

2. The combination,with the rack-bar A, of the clutch spur-wheels G and O, the shafts B B, spurwheels F F, clutch spur-wheels 0 C shafts E E,,spur-wheels G G, pinion H, and shaft I, as herein specified.

3. In a tidal power, the combination, with the winding-drum, rack-barA, and intermediate mechanism, of clutch-wheels, each consisting of a sleeve, 0, collars a a, rim D, rollers b b, and the spring-pressed clutch-arms d, pivoted in the sleeve 0, as herein described.

4. In a tidal power, the combination of a rack-bar, as A, carried by a float,with a clutch arranged to engage with said rack-bar, and mounted on a shaft carrying a pinion, as F, a 0 shaft, as E, carrying a pinion, as 0", and a drum, as J, all arranged substantially as described.

FELIX R. BUSSARD. MARTIN GATES. WVitnesses:

O. W. MILLER, ALEX LEWIS. 

